Eastern Mt. Drug Prosecution Coordinator Receives MBCC Award

On April 8, the Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC) presented its 2016 Program Highlight to the Eastern Montana drug prosecution coordinator, a program previously located in Glasgow.

The Program Highlight honors statewide or community-based criminal justice programs that merit recognition for providing effective services to address public safety-related issues. The program was established to serve as an expert resource to provide assistance to law enforcement, prosecutors and judges of northeastern Montana where the ability to specialize is severely limited by the size of the average county attorney office. The Eastern Montana drug prosecution coordinator developed an online brief bank and completed a Drug Prosecution Manual, which included detailed information and examples on confidential informants, probable cause, search warrants, charging and sentencing, forfeiture and applicable forms. On-site training and consultation with eastern Montana county attorneys was also provided through this program. While no longer currently funded, the program is a model of a successful program that could be replicated throughout the state. Kathy Granger, project director of Eastern Montana Drug Prosecution Coordinator Program, commented, "We would like to thank the Montana Board of Crime Control for the recognition of this program. The need for this kind of support in northeast Montana was at an all-time high when it was funded by the MBCC. The work completed by coordinator Diane Cochran made a difference in the successful prosecution of drug cases and its effects will be felt in our area for a long time to come."